CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Boston College's top line of Nikita Nesterenko, Cutter Gauthier and Andre Gasseau combined for nine points and a plus-11 rating in a 5-2 victory over UMass in the Hockey East Opening Round on Wednesday night at Kelley Rink.
The eighth-seeded Eagles (14-15-6) advance to face No. 2 seed Merrimack on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Hockey East Quarterfinal at Lawler Rink on NESN.
The Minutemen closed their season with a record of 13-17-5.
BC improved to 10-1-0 all-time against UMass in the Hockey East Tournament, including 10 straight victories. The Eagles have won six straight in the overall series, including all four meetings this season, and are 10-1-0 in their last 11 matchups with the Minutemen.
Boston College out-shot Massachusetts 42-18 as Mitch Benson picked up the win, needing only 16 saves.
Senior captain Marshall Warren handed BC an early lead just 1:08 into the contest when he snapped a left point shot into the bottom right corner through a Nesterenko screen. Rookies Gauthier and Gasseau earned assists on the opening goal.
Following a clean faceoff win by Cam Burke, Eamon Powell threw a weak-angle shot on net from the right wing and followed his own rebound, sneaking a backhand inside the near post at 17:07 for a 2-0 lead.
Taylor Makar pulled a goal back for UMass at 18:41, but Gasseau quickly restored the two-goal cushion with 16 seconds left in the first on a one-timer from the slot off a centering feed from Gauthier.
Nesterenko extended the Boston College lead 9:11 into the second, firing a heavy shot under the crossbar glove side to beat Cole Brady from the top of the left wing circle. Gauthier collected his third assist of the night on Nesterenko's 12th of the season.
UMass defenseman Ryan Ufko found the back of the net from the center point through traffic 22 seconds into the third, making it a 4-2 game.
Nesterenko responded with his second of the night at 3:12 when Gasseau stick-handled into the UMass slot and one-handed a pass to his junior linemate on the weak side to beat Brady.
Nesterenko (2-1-3), Gasseau (1-2-3) and Gauthier (0-3-3) all had three-point performances. Warren also had a multi-point night with a goal and an assist.
